How would Giants use Shohei Ohtani? 'That's very flexible for us'

NBC Sports Bay Area staff

6 days ago

At this point, the story is known of Shohei Ohtani's talents as a two-way star in Japan. There are still questions, however, to how that would translate to Major League Baseball, especially in the National League.

Ohtani actually has not played in the outfield since 2014. He only played eight games between left and right field in 2014 and has only played 62 career games in the outfield in five seasons as a pro. The 23-year-old also dealt with a lower leg injury in 2017.

“It ultimately depends on our outfield makeup, but we see his ability to play all three (positions),” Evans said. “That’s very flexible for us. There’s certainly advantages to left field in our left field, but we’re not pigeon-holing him to one spot right now.”

As a pitcher, Ohtani has never tossed more than 160 innings in a season. He took the mound every seven days in Japan compared to MLB pitchers toeing the rubber every five. Expect a schedule much like Ohtani is used to in Japan if he joins the Giants' staff.

“He’s been starting once a week in Japan, so he starts every seventh day,” Evans said. “It’s a little different over there so I don’t know that you would expect him to come over here and start every fifth day.

"Our kids, even in the minor leagues, we don’t start them but every six days so I wouldn’t expect him to come over here and pitch a whole lot more frequently than he did over there."

The wait continues to see where the prospect considered the Babe Ruth of Japan will ultimately begin his career in the majors.